Extensible ladder.



N0. 7|5,09|. Patented 060.2, I902.

' M. LAHGEN."

EXTENSIBLE LADDER.

(Application filed Inna 28, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Shae! 3.

(No Modal.)

I I l J---- lad? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX LANGEN, OF COLOGNE, GERMANY.

EXTENSIBLE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,091, dated December 2, 1902. Application filed June 23. 1902. Serial No. 112,895. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it 71mg concern:

Be it known that I, MAX LANGEN, manufacturer, a subject of the King of Prussia, German Emperor, residing at No. 5 Herwarthstrasse, Oologne-on-the-Rhine, in the Kingdom of Prussia, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Extensible Ladder Operated Either by Compressed Carbonic Acid and the Like or by Hand, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in extensible ladders as used by firemen or oth ers and operated by compressed carbonic acid or the like; and the object of my improvement is to so arrange the drum-shaft for hoisting the ladder parts that it may be driven equally by hand in case the means driven by the compressed carbonic acid or other driv ing fluid should fail to work properly. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of the extensible ladder constructed in a mode of execution according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transversal section of the same on the line at w in Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a similar transversal section on the line 3 y in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 shows, on an enlarged scale, the left end part of the extensible ladder proper in Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 an extensible ladder as used by firemen or others. For extending the ladder it is first turned to a vertical position, or nearly so, whereupon the hoisting-drum m is put into motion. The construction of the extensible ladder itself is immaterial. a a denote the uprights of the lowermost ladder part, to which two cylinders 19 b are secured. The pistons of the latter are connected by their rods 0 c with the crossheads e e, which slide in suitable guides d d, (see Fig. 41,) secured to the ladder-uprights a a. The vessels ,2 containing the compressed carbonic acid or the like are secured to the standard a and attached by suitable hose 2 or the like to the lower ends of the cylinders b b, and suitable known means may be employed for admitting the driving fluid to the cylinders. On the cross-heads e. e the ends of ropes ff are fastened, which are preferably made fiat. Theother ends of these ropes are affixed to the pulleys g g, keyed on a hollow shaft 2', which is mounted to turn in suitable bearings s 5, attached to the uprights a or. On the naves ofthe pulleys g g the gearwheels h h are fastened, which engage in pinions is is, mounted to shift on the drum-shaft Z, while prevented from turning by suitable splines 6 Il. The next lower ladder part n is in a known manner arranged to slide within the uprights a a. Its lower end is connected with two ropes or chains to, which are led over the guiding-rolls v on the uprights a a and attached with their other ends to the drum m. The next lower ladder part n is assumed to be attached to chains or ropes, (not shown,) which are led over the guiding-rolls w on the ladder part n and affixed with their other ends to the uprights a a at suitable places. In a similar manner the lower end of the upper ladder part 91 is connected with ropes or chains, (not shown,)

. which are led over the guiding-rolls w on the ladder part n and attached with their other ends to the ladder part n at suitable places.

It will now be obvious that when the pinions k k are so shifted as to engage the gearwheels 7L h (see Fig. 5) and when the compressed carbonic acid or other driving fluid is admitted to the cylinders b 1) their pistons will be driven upward. Then by their rods 0 c and the flat ropesff the pulleys g g will be caused to put the hoisting-drum m into rotation by the gear-wheels h h and the pinions It. The consequence of this is that by the ropes or chains to the next lower ladder part a will be raised, while at the same time the upper ladder parts n and n will be equally extended by their respective chains or ropes. The several ladder parts are then in any approved mannersecured in their upper positions. For example, movable shoes may be attached to the uprights of the sev' eral ladder parts excepting the uppermost one, and the ends of the ladder parts with the exception of the lowermost 'part'a. are caused to rest on the respective shoes by allowing a part of the driving fluid to escape from the cylinders b b. When the means for securing the ladder parts in these positions are released and the driving fluid is allowed to escape from the cylinders, the ladder will be again contracted by the weight of the upper ladder parts.

As it may happen that the driving-gear described so far will fail to work, according to my invention the following arrangement is provided to enable the extensible ladder to be operated equally by hand: Within the hollow shaft 1' the hand-crank shaftp is mounted to turn freely, which carries a pinion q. On the drum-shaft l a gear-wheel 0 is keyed, which engages the said pinion q. For securing the gear-wheel 0 in any position a pawl r is mounted to turn on a suitable stud r at the one upright a and to engage with the teeth of the wheel. In case of need all that is required will be to so shift the pinions 7c is as to bring them out of engagement with the gear wheels h h and to put hand-cranks p on the square ends of the shaft p. Then the hoisting-drum 'm will be driven on turning the shaftp by means of the hand-crankp, so as to extend the ladderin the usual manner, while the gear-wheels h h, with the hollow shaft t' and the pulleys g 9, hence also the ropes ff, with the cross-heads e e, the piston-rods c c, and the pistons, will remain idle. Of course when the ladder is to be extended with the aid of compressed carbonic acid or the like the pawl 7" will require to be disengaged from the teeth of the gear-wheel 0, so as to allow of the latter turning freely while the handcranks p'are taken oif. Evidently a second pinion, similar to g, may be keyed on the other end of the shaft 19 and a second gearwheel, similar to 0, on the other end of the drum-shaft Z.

It is preferable to key a brake-wheel on the hollow shaft 1' for regulating the speed of the ladder parts, raised or lowered.

The two cylinders 19 5 shown may be replaced by a single one affixed on the rear side of the lowermost ladder part, in which case the driving-gear will require to be altered accordingly.

Having now described my invention, what I wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is The combination with an extensible ladder, Q

extensible ladder, a shaft mounted to turn in bearings attached to the lowermost ladder part and carrying said drum, a cylinder attached to said lowermost ladder part, a piston reciprocating therein, means for admitting compressed carbonic acid and the like to said cylinder to move said piston, a rod attached on one end to said piston and on the other end to a cross-head, guides attached to said lowermost ladder part for guiding said cross-head, a fiat rope connected at one end with said cross-head, a hollow shaft mounted parallel to said drum-shaft and to turn in bearings attached to said lowermost ladder part, a pulley keyed on said hollow shaft and connected with the other end of said flat rope, a gearwheel keyed on said hollow shaft, a pinion mounted shiftable on said drum-shaft to engage with and disengage from said gear-wheel at pleasure, so that on its being engaged and on admitting the driving fluid to said cylinder said ladder parts are extended and on allowing the driving fluid to escape, said ladder parts are again contracted by their own weight, a hand-crank shaft mounted to turn in said hollow shaft, a pinion keyed on said hand-crank shaft, a gear-wheel keyed on said drum-shaft and engaging said keyed pinion, so that on said shiftable pinion being disengaged said ladder parts may be moved by hand from said hand-crank shaft, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

MAX LANGEN. Witnesses:

CHARLES LESIMPLE, CARL SOHMITT. 

